Swimming pool cleaner

ABSTRACT

A pool cleaner which includes a body, a passage through the body with an inlet to and an outlet from the passage, a flow interrupting device in the passage between the inlet and the outlet, and a float which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the body and for rotational movement about the passage between first and second limiting positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a swimming pool cleaner.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention provides a pool cleaner which includes a body, a passage through the body with an inlet to and an outlet from the passage, a flow interrupting device in the passage between the inlet and the outlet, a deflector mounted to the body which projects away from the body, and a float which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the body and wherein the float is movable to a limiting position at which it contacts the deflector.

The float is preferably mounted to the body for rotational movement about the passage between first and second limiting positions.

Such rotational movement is transverse to the pivotal movement.

The deflector preferably has a circular circumferential formation.

A weight is preferably attached to the body on an opposed side relative to the float.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pool cleaner according to the invention but excluding a seal or skirt which normally is used with the cleaner;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 with a body of the cleaner engaged with a seal; and

FIG. 3 is a view in cross section of the cleaner taken on a line 3-3 in FIG. 2 illustrating possible rotation of a float which is included in the cleaner.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The accompanying drawings illustrate a pool cleaner 10 according to the invention which includes a body 12 with an inlet 14 at a lower end of the body and an outlet 16 at an upper end of the body. The outlet is formed, inter alia, by an elongate tube 18 which is rotatable about an elongate axis 20 relative to the body 12.

A spigot 22, at the outlet, is used for attaching the pool cleaner to a flexible suction hose, not shown, that is known in the art.

A flow-interrupting mechanism, not shown, is positioned inside the body in at least one passage which extends from the inlet to the outlet. The flow-interrupting mechanism may be of any kind known in the art and may for example be a wedge-shaped hammer which oscillates between limiting positions and thereby diverts the water flow between two parallel passages. Alternatively the flow-interrupting device is a diaphragm valve which opens and closes repeatedly as water flows through the passage. Other mechanisms known in the art can be employed—the invention is not limited in this regard.

A float 30 is attached to the body. The float includes a buoyant member 32 which is air-filled fixed to ends of parallel arms 34. The arms in turn are mounted to a journal 36 by means of an axle 38 which is held in place by means of screw members 40. The journal projects from a collar 44 which is positioned in a shallow groove 46 in an outer side of the body.

A union nut 50 is used to keep the tube 18 engaged with the remainder of the body. A deflector 54 is mounted to the body adjacent the union nut. The deflector has a number of radial spokes 56 which extend from a hub 58 and which support a circular circumferential component or ring 64.

Referring to FIG. 2 a seal 66 is mounted to a lower end of the body adjacent the inlet 14. This type of arrangement is known in the art. FIG. 2 also illustrates a weight 68 which is on a lower side of the body whereas the float 30 is on an opposing upper side of the body. It is to be observed that the weight 68 is more or less centrally located between the deflector 54 and the collar 44 relative to the longitudinal axis 20.

When the cleaner is submerged in water and is operating the float is able to move freely about the axle 38 between a lower limiting position A, shown in dotted outline, at which the buoyant member contacts the seal 66. In an opposing direction the float can move to a solid line position marked B at which the float abuts the deflector 54.

FIG. 3 shows that the float has a further degree of permitted movement. The collar 44 can rotate about the longitudinal axis 20 between extreme dotted line positions marked D and E respectively. The collar has a projection 70 which extends inwardly into a shallow arcuate groove 72 in a lower outer side of the body. When the stop abuts a shoulder D1 of the groove the float is in the position marked D. When the stop abuts a shoulder marked E1 of the groove the float is in the position marked E.

It has been established through trial and error that the movement of the float which can take place freely as the cleaner moves through a body of water, but which is constrained at limiting positions determined by the seal and deflector respectively, in one sense, and in a transverse sense by the shoulders D1 and E1 respectively, contributes materially to the effectiveness of the cleaning pattern of the cleaner because the randomness of movement, of the cleaner, is enhanced. The float 68 positioned as shown in FIG. 2, i.e. between the deflector and the axle, helps the cleaner to maintain its correct orientation under various operating conditions. Effectively a moment is established about the axis 20 in that the weight, which is made from a dense material such as lead, pulls the associated side of the cleaner downwardly while the float, on an opposing side, causes the opposing side to move upwardly. A highly effective cleaning action is thus achieved. 

1. A pool cleaner which includes a body, a passage through the body with an inlet to and an outlet from the passage, a flow interrupting device in the passage between the inlet and the outlet, a deflector mounted to the body which projects away from the body, and a float which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the body and wherein the float is movable to a limiting position at which it contacts the deflector.
 2. A pool cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the float is mounted to the body for rotational movement about the passage between first and second limiting positions.
 3. A pool cleaner according to claim 1 which includes a weight which is attached to the body on an opposed side relative to the float.
 4. A pool cleaner which includes a body, a passage through the body with an inlet to and an outlet from the passage, a flow interrupting device in the passage between the inlet and the outlet, and a float which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the body and for rotational movement about the passage between first and second limiting positions.
 5. A pool cleaner according to claim 1 which includes a collar which is mounted to the body for rotation about the passage wherein the float is mounted to the collar for pivotal movement relative to the collar. 